Unemployment Insurance

you're right in my case anyway, I didn't want to even take UC and CB ESA it's the Fourth time I've been shifted in 25 years, if this becomes a law and applies to existing claimants then I'll not be claiming it, being harassed and threatened to do things that aren't even possible just to have it cut off in a maximum of a year anyway no way. I won't get into my personal fine details but will say the days of them literally causing me to actively plan a way out and more than once actually try it are over.

I believe they'll be a lot of playing up again by unions, Backbenchers campaigners etc even the suggestion has already caused waves regarding human rights, discrimination etc.

good point everything they've tried so far has crashedband burnt this could too.

And no one is talking about the abolishment of the WCA, leave alone protesting against this!

I believe the "Unemployment Insurance" concerns only current claimants on New Style ESA, which in turn only concerns claimants on Contribution based ESA, which I don't think is your case, provided I'm not wrong. Claimants with LCWRA status on Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will not be transferred on to "Unemployment Insurance".

Apart from that, guess what - I've finally called PIP this morning to ask them for a form. I've received an online one, which I prefer.

I rang them and a lady picked up my call in less than two minutes, but the line went off while being almost at the end of our conversation. I rang them again and another lady picked up my call in less than five minutes!

The funny thing is that they recite a lot of things to you, as you if you were in court!

You're right and I've seen it on this forum - people who were previously on ESA income related transferred on to New Style ESA. I wish someone could take this issue to the DWP.

My GP told me in 2022 when I was first planning to claim it that she wouldn't write a letter or report for me and that the assessors would contact her.

Anyhow, as MW123 has pointed out that GP letters are often vague, which is absolutely true, as I've witnessed it myself firsthand, I'll write down as many details as possible and hopefully will submit it on time.

You're right, the online version is better and quicker, as you can go back to it and amend it as many times as you like, I guess.

Again, as MW123 has advised, I'll try it and if they reject my claim, I won't lose anything. I've no intention of making MR or taking them to tribunal.

Thanks for your encouragement.

Not only are these assessments frightening and stressing out people, but also they're humiliating people.

I've never been more stressed out in all my life than the day I was going to attend my WCA appointment. It was so cold, yet I wasn't even feeling it due to my stress and the pressure. Glad the young woman who assessed me was so nice and humane. She even told me at the end of the assessment that I shouldn't have worried and that I had passed. The difference in me between while I was going to the assessment and when I was coming back home, the biggest mountain on earth could have fitted in!

The confusion, which I believe is on purpose, comes from the usual culprit themselves - the DWP.

Following what has been said so far, claimants who will be affected by the "Unemployment Insurance" are those who are currently in the Limited Capability for Work (LCW) group, those receiving New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NS ESA), and anyone else who is expected to actively look for work. The government is planning to replace the New Style ESA entirely from 2028/2029 with UI, which is time limited and non-means-tested entitlement.

The "Unemployment Insurance" is a proposal that is still under consultation. A White Paper detailing the policy is expected in this Autumn 2025.  Any legislative changes will then be implemented after this, following the publication of the White Paper and further impact assessments.